Matthew Boyle

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday evening that Attorney General Eric Holder is looking for a “free pass” on Operation Fast and Furious.

Grassley praised House oversight committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa’s decision to move forward with contempt of Congress proceedings if Holder doesn’t provide promised documents to Congress by a scheduled 10 a.m. Wednesday vote. Grassley, Issa, Holder, Deputy Attorney General James Cole, Maryland Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings and Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy all met in the Capitol on Tuesday in an effort to avert contempt proceedings. Since Holder won’t give up the documents, the contempt proceedings are set to move forward.

“The attorney general wants to trade a briefing and the promise of delivering some small, unspecified set of documents tomorrow for a free pass today,” Grassley said. “He wants to turn over only what he wants to turn over and not give us any information about what he’s not turning over. That’s unacceptable. I’m not going to buy a pig in a poke. Chairman Issa is right to move forward to seek answers about a disastrous government operation.”

Leahy, on the other hand, offered his full support for Holder to a few reporters after the meeting.

“I certainly support the attorney general and I appreciate that he is going the extra mile to resolve this,” Leahy said in a quote later provided to The Daily Caller.